Below are the basic steps involved in passing a bill into law. Links to information
available on the Texas Legislature Online are provided to aid in following these steps.

Idea

The process for creating a new law starts when a legislator first begins to formulate
an idea. An idea for a new law may be suggested by anyone: concerned citizens, special interest groups,
state agencies, or the governor, for example. If you have an idea you would like to suggest to your legislator,
use the Who Represents Me
website to determine your senator or representative and to find his or her contact information.

Introduction

During a legislative session, members may introduce new legislation until filing deadlines identified on the legislative
dates calendar. When the legislature is in session, the Texas Legislature Online (TLO) home page
will include the time that the house and senate are scheduled to convene each day. Methods
to view introduced legislation include:

When a bill is scheduled to be heard by a house or senate committee, public notice is made to
allow public participation in the committee process. View house meeting
notices and senate meeting
notices to see which bills are scheduled to be considered at a particular committee meeting.

Most committee meetings are available for viewing over the
Internet on the house and senate websites.
You can receive notice of upcoming house and senate committee meetings through e-mail.

Placed on House/Senate Calendar

After a bill has been reported favorably by a committee
and the committee report has been printed, the bill is available for
placement on a calendar. A calendar is a list of bills and resolutions that
are scheduled to be considered by the full house or senate.
Use this website to view house
calendars and senate
calendars.

Considered on House/Senate Floor

Journals are records of activity that occurs on the house or senate floor and include
actions that are taken on a bill and any amendments added to the bill.
Use this website to view house journals and senate journals.

View the amendments
website to search for amendments based on chamber, author, bill, reading, and
date.

Proceedings on the house and senate chamber floor may be viewed over
the Internet at house and senate websites.

Signed/Vetoed by Governor

If a bill passes both the house and senate, it may be
signed or vetoed by the governor or pass without signature. View the legislative
reports to see a list of all bills passed or vetoed.

Laws of Texas

Once legislation becomes law, it becomes codified as a statute. Statutes
may be viewed and searched at the Texas Statutes
website.